Internet working just fine--no need for gov't regulation

"A camel is a horse designed by committee" is an old maxim that comes into play in regards to federal attempts to "fix" the internet. While camels have their uses, in pre-automobile times most riders chose horses for their personal transportation needs.

Writing for, yes, the Huffington Post, Joe Waz says, in essence, thanks, the internet is running fine on its. There is no need for government regulation.

Unless of course you want a camel instead of a horse when you log into your computer. Why is the Internet so extraordinarily successful? Your first answer may be "brilliant engineering," and that's obviously true. Your second answer may be "it's open, it's global, it's interconnected." Also correct. But perhaps the least understood or appreciated factor in the internet's growth and success is its amazing capacity for self-governance, and its ability to resist the traditional tools of government regulation.

Because the Internet eludes the grasp of government, often by working around it, censorship of internet speech has proven difficult, as the global tumult in repressive government regimes bears witness.

But at the same time, some governments believe they need to intervene to pursue legitimate social goals, such as combatting child exploitation on the internet, or reducing theft of identities and intellectual property, or ensuring the security of networks.

From many quarters, there is pressure to inject more "government" into the internet. We think the better course is for governments to understand, and cooperate with, the so-called "multistakeholder organizations" that have grown up organically with the Internet.

ICANN is one such group, Waz says.

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